April Is National Minority Health Month

National Minority Health Month has been recognized by the U.S. Congress as an important effort aimed at raising awareness of health disparities that exist in minority populations.

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) joins minority health advocates statewide to recognize April as National Minority Health Month. The theme for this year’s observance is “Bring It or Buy It - Make Lunch Healthy, Green and Good! In Schools, even Food Can Teach Us a Lesson.”

The DOH Office of Minority Health supports the importance of physical activity, nutrition and healthy foods in schools and in minority communities.

The "adult conditions" that we now see in children such as diabetes, extreme weight gain, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are traced back to food consumption and lack of physical activity. With continued increases in the number of children eating school meals - which now includes breakfast, lunch, and occasionally snacks, the push for access to nutritious meals has become paramount.
 
School meals should be a great teachable moment that links good nutrition and ability to perform well academically, a pathway to lifelong education on healthy eating, and the environmental impact of food choices.

The Office of Minority Health will host Minority Health Education Day at the Capitol with health exhibitors stationed around the Rotunda of the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Capitol on April 14, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Let's make the connection clear during National Minority Health Month, and beyond.

2011 Education Day at the Capitol (pdf, 341KB)	2011 Minority Health Month poster (pdf, 361KB)

2011 Counties Community Healthcare Pioneers Honorees

In observance of National Minority Health Month the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Minority Health and the Minority Health Liaisons (MHLs) initiated a process to elect a Community Healthcare Pioneer in the respective counties. A Community Healthcare Pioneer is an individual who has had an impact on reducing racial and ethnic health disparities and improving the health status of citizens in their counties. Twenty counties participated in the initiative and selected Community Healthcare Pioneers

2011 Pioneers Honorees (doc, 38KB)

2011 Poineers Bios (xls, 41KB)

2011 Statewide Community Healthcare Pioneer

The Florida Department of Health congratulates Allison Nist, M.D. on her nomination and selection as the 2011 Statewide Community Healthcare Pioneer. Dr. Allison Nist was selected from a group of twenty (20) county nominees following a competitive review and scoring process.

Dr. Nist's tireless efforts and dedication to the healthcare needs of individuals with HIV/AIDS in Collier County demonstrate that through caring, dedication, and access to care quality healthcare services can be made available to underserved populations in Florida.

Dr. Nist began a specialty clinic to treat individuals with HIV/AIDS at Collier Health Services, a federally qualified health center based in Immokalee, Florida. In 1988 she transferred her work to the Collier County Health Department and expanded her clinic to serve both Naples and Immokalee. Dr. Nist provided care in the clinic setting, visited patients in the area hospital, and at times visited patients in their homes. She enrolled as a provider in early drug trials so that her patients had access to some of the most cutting edge treatment options available. Dr. Nist never got discouraged and she continues to provide high quality care that always meets or exceeds the current standard of care.

Dr. Nist will be honored on April 14th, during Minority Health Month Day at the Capitol.

Allison Nist, M.D. & Shairi Turner, M.D., MPH Former Deputy Secretary of Health & Director, Office of Minority Health	Allison Nist, M.D.